Device for inserting tabs into identification bracelets



Nov. 24, 1964 J, c, w rrE 3,157,941

DEVICE FOR INSERTING TABS INTO IDENTIFICATION BRACELETS Filed May 4.1962 FIG. 4

FIG. 6. I9

"illulnrlllllllll I76 BY Z JAMES C. WHlTE I MW ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,157,941 DEVICE FQR HNSERTENG TABS MTGIDENTHFICATIQN ERACELETS James C. White, Bronx, N.Y., assignor toPropper Marne factoring Company, inc Long island (Iity, N.Y., acorporation of New Yuri;

Filed May 4, 1962, Ser. No. 192,412 3 Claims. (till. 29-241) Thisinvention relates generally to an identification bracelet and, moreparticularly, to a device for inserting identification tabs into bandsto form identification bracelets.

One important aspect of the present invention relates to a device withwhich tabs having identification indicia may be readily inserted intotransparent plastic tubular bands to form identification bracelets.

Due to the nature of such tubular bands, a difiicult problem is posedwith respect to the ready insertion of the identification tabs therein.It is accordingly an important aim and object of the present inventionto provide a simplified and improved device for the insertion of tabsbearing identification indicia into companion tubular bands to formidentification bracelets which may be secured about an appendage of apatient. Pursuant to this object of the present invention there isprovided an inserting device formed complementary to such tabs forfacilitating the insertion of the tabs into the bands.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of agenerally improved device for inserting identification tabs into tubularbands which is simple and convenient, and which may be accomplished bythe relatively unskilled with minimum requirements for manual dexterity.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered inconnection with the accompanying illustrative drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an identification bracelet insertingcomponents showing in plan a tubular continuous ribbon for forming thebands, and an inserting device and strip of tabs in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a tab being secured on theinserting device;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the inserting device and attachedtab being inserted into a tubular band;

FIG. 4 is a perspective View showing the withdrawal of the insertingdevice from the band with the identification tab being retainedtherewithin;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an assembled identificationbracelet positioned about a wearers wrist; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing another embodiment of inserting device.

Referring to the drawings, the identification bracelet 21 is formed froma tubular ribbon 3 of transparent plastic material, for example, aflexible vinyl material. Because of the stretchability of this materialthere is secured in the ribbon a strip of relatively nonstretchablematerial 2, for example, a suitable transparent plastic flexiblematerial. Thus the strip 2 inhibits the longitudinal stretchability ofthe resultant bracelet. The tubular ribbon 3 is formed from initiallyflat continuous strip material to which strip material 2 is secured andsuch ribbon is formed into tubular form with secured togetheroverlapping marginal strips la and 1c, the latter having strip 2 securedthereto (FIG. 5 At regular longitudinal intervals, tubular ribbon 3 istransversely notched as indicated at 711 and 7b thereby dividing saidribbon into readily detachable band segments 4. The aligned notches 7aand 7b are formed by removing generally triangular sections fromopposite sides 8 and 9 of the tubular ribbon 3. Upon severing of thedetachable band segments 4 from the tubular ribbon 3, bands 28 areformed. It will be apparent that band segments 4 are of a lengthsufficient to encircle the wrist or ankle of the wearer with some excesslength. Laterally adjacent to notches 7a and 7b are circular punchedholes 9 which are dimensioned to receive rivets 10, the latterfunctioning to secure the bands in bracelet defining relation. The bandsegments 4 are conveniently supplied and dispensed from a roll 13 shownin FIG. 1. Accordingly, end lengths of the band segments aresuccessively severed from the roll 13 along severance lines 4a to formbands 28, the latter being flexible and transparent and substantiallynonstretchable by virtue of strips 2 disposed in the segments.

The identification bracelet 21 further includes a tab 14 formed fromthin cardboard stock, or the like, the tab 14 being adapted to havepatient identification indicia 14c suitably delineated thereon as bywriting or printing. The tabs 14 may be supplied in strip form with thetabs being severable along the score lines 14a. The tabs 14 aredimensioned to be received in the band segments 4 and as shown in FIG.1, the tabs have a central longitudinal line 14b imprinted thereon forconvenience in applying the identification indicia 14c. The tabs 14 areof generally rectangular configuration and the leading end 18 is ofarcuate contour in order to facilitate the operation of inserting thetabs into the band segments. The tabs 14 are preferably supplied in twodifferent lengths, the longer of which is adapted for use in connectionwith adult patients, with the shorter one being adapted for children andinfant bracelets.

Pursuant to the present invention the tabs 14 are inserted in the bands28 by means of the inserting device 15 formed in accordance with thepresent invention. The inserting device 15 is of generally rectangularconfiguration and of a length somewhat greater than the length of thetabs 14 adapted for insertion in the bands thereby. The inserting deviceof the illustrated embodiment is of stamped metallic construction and isformed from relatively thin sheet material. The inserting device 15 hasa rounded leading end 17 Which corresponds to the rounded edge 18 oftabs 14. Struck out from the body of the inserting device is a tang orclip 19 which is substantially parallel to the plane of the insertingdevice and is slightly laterally spaced therefrom to receive thetrailing end 14d of tab 14 thereunder, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.The inserting device forwardly of the clip 19 is substantiallycoextensive with a companion tab 14. In practice, a strip 14 bearingidentification data 140 is releasably secured in position on a companioninserting device 15, as shown in FIG. 2, by engaging the trailing end14d of the tab 14 under the clip 19 thereby to register the tab with theinserting device and conditioning the tab for insertion into the openend of a band 28, as shown in FIG. 3. The

inserting device and releasably secured tab are inserted into the openend of a band 28, as shown in FIG. 3, in order to position the leadingend of such assembly adjacent to the opposite end of the band 28, asshown in FIG. 4. Thereafter the leading end of the tab 14 isconveniently grasped by engaging the fingers at the corresponding end ofthe band and with the tab so grasped the inserting device is retractedfrom the band by virtue of the releasable connection between theinserting device and tab leaving the tab enclosed in the band and spacedfrom the ends thereof. It will be understood that the inserting deviceis readily detachable from the tab in a Withdrawing direc tion and thata small amount of pressure applied on the 3 tab through the band issufiicient to retain the tab in position during the inserting devicewithdrawal operation. The trailing end of the device is provided with asuitable fitting 20 for tying connection with an end length of string.

The clip or tang U is formed of very thin stock and extends onlyslightly above the plane of the tab 14 so as not to impede the readyinsertion of the inserting device and tab assembly into the open end ofthe band 28. After the band has an identification tab inserted therein,in the manner aforedescribed, a rivet is inserted in opening 9 of theband. The opposite ends of the band are overlapped, as shown in FIG. 7,and the inserting end of the band is punched to provide a rivet hole toregister with hole 9 of the band. The rivet is projected through theregistered rivet openings and is upset in the usual manner by means of aconventional riveting tool in order to form the bracelet 21, which isshown in FIG. 7, as secured to a patients wrist. It will be understoodthat the bracelet 21 cannot be removed from the patients wrist withoutdestroying the same as by unfastening the band at the rivet connectionsince the band is substantially longitudinally in extensible. Thus theinserting device 15 provides a convenient and simple means for thefacile insertion of the tab into the tubular open ended band. Theidentification tab will be permanently secured to a patients limb untilsuch time as the band is deliberately removed from the patient whichwill be readily apparent by inspecting the bracelet. The insertingdevices may be supplied in different lengths corresponding to thelengths of tabs to be used in conjunction therewith and in this regardit will be apparent that the clip 19 of the inserting device will bespaced from the end 17, a distance substantially corresponding to thelength of a tab to be used in conjunction therewith.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is disclosed another embodiment 15a of aninserting device which is adapted to be used with tabs of two differentsizes. More particularly, clip 19a is adapted to be used in conjunctionwith a relatively long tab which will extend from said clip to therounded end 17:: whereas the clip 1% is adapted to be used for a shortertab which extends substantially from such clip to the rounded end 17b ofthe inserting device. Thus the inserting device 15a may be used forinserting two different size tabs into a band dispensing with the needfor two separate inserting devices which would normally be required fortwo different lengths of tabs. It should be noted that the head of therivet is positioned against the wearers limb with the opposite end ofthe rivet being upset over the overlapped ends of the band to secure theband in bracelet-defining relation. If desired, the excess tubularribbon which is severed from the band for sizing the same to the patientis cut on a bias in order to facilitate the insertion of tab 14 therein.The tab 14 hearing the identification indicia is preferably insertedinto the band 28 after the same has been cut to the desired length forthe patient although this sequence of steps is optional. If desired,after the bracelet is secured on the patients limb, any excess bandlength beyond the rivet may be trimmed.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the principles ofthe invention, it will be understood A that the invention may beembodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

l. An inserting device for inserting an identification tab into a bandof an identification bracelet, comprising a relatively stifflongitudinally extending member having a rounded forward endsubstantially corresponding to the contour of one end of the tab and aclip spaced from said forward end a distance substantially correspondingto the length of the tab, said clip having a first portion laterallyspaced from the plane of said member a distance substantiallycorresponding to the thickness of a single tab and opening towards saidforward end to releasably secure said tab and a second portion whichextends between and connects the first portion of the clip to thesurface of the said member, said second portion of the clip being anabutment for applying pushing force to said tab during insertion thereofinto said bracelet.

2. An inserting device for inserting an identification tab into a bandof an identification bracelet, comprising a relatively stiltlongitudinally extending member having a rounded forward endsubstantially corresponding to the contour of one end of the tab and aclip spaced from said forward end a distance substantially correspondingto the length of the tab, said clip having a first portion laterallyspaced from the plane of said member a distance substantiallycorresponding to the thickness of a single tab and opening towards saidforward end to releasably secure said tab, and a second portion whichextends between and connects the first portion of the clip to thesurface of said member, said second portion of the clip being anabutment for applying pushing force to said tab during insertion thereofinto said bracelet, said clip being constituted by a struck-up portionof said member.

3. An inserting device for inserting an identification tab into a bandof an identification bracelet, comprising a relatively stifflongitudinally extending member having a rounded forward endsubstantially corresponding to the contour of one end of the tab and aclip spaced from said forward end a distance substantially correspondingto the length of the tab, said clip having a first portion laterallyspaced from the plane of said member a distance substantiallycorresponding to the thickness of a single tab and opening towards saidforward end to releasably secure said tab, and a second portion whichextends between and connects the first portion of the clip to thesurface of said member, said second portion of the clip being anabutment for applying pushing force to said tab during insertion thereofinto said bracelet, said first portion of the clip being of elongatedconfiguration and extending parallel to the plane of said member along acentral axis thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,021,338 Struve Nov. 19, 1935 2,723,061 Liebowitz Nov. 8, 19552,875,928 Cohen Mar. 3, 1959 3,001,270 Friedman Sept. 26, 1961 FOREIGNPATENTS 410,133 Germany Feb. 23, 1925

1. AN INSERTING DEVICE FOR INSERTING AN IDENTIFICATION TAB INTO A BAND OF AN IDENTIFICATION BRACELET, COMPRISING A RELATIVELY STIFF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING MEMBER HAVING A ROUNDED FORWARD END SUBSTANTIALLY CORRESPONDING TO THE CONTOUR OF ONE END OF THE TAB AND A CLIP SPACED FROM SAID FORWARD END A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY CORRESPONDING TO THE LENGTH OF THE TAB, SAID CLIP HAVING A FIRST PORTION LATERALLY SPACED FROM THE PLANE OF SAID MEMBER A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY CORRESPONDING TO THE THICKNESS OF A SINGLE TAB AND OPENING TOWARDS SAID FORWARD END TO RELESABLY SECURE SAID TAB AND A SECOND PORTION WHICH EXTENDS BETWEEN AND CONNECTS THE FIRST PORTION OF THE CLIP TO THE SURFACE OF THE SAID MEMBER, SAID SECOND PORTION OF THE CLIP BEING AN ABUTMENT FOR APPLYING PUSHING FORCE TO SAID TAB DURING INSERTION THEREOF INTO SAID BRACELET. 